diary entry 31-07-08

Today I walked the dog. Down through Fawkner park we went. 4 lively swallows taunted him, flying low & darting back & forth. He chased them relentlessly, trying to round them up. Their midnight blue tails glimmering in the winter sun & hints of their red chests showed as they flitted about. They were really quite beautiful to watch, I've never seen a swallow in nature before.
Now I sit at VonHaus, my first time here... I must come back. It is a welcoming room, with a warm patina. Aged walls & cherry blossoms, jars of dry goods line the kitchen shelves. I have myself a ploughman's lunch ($14), consisting of a boiled egg, aged cheddar, a piece of apple, cornichons, pickles served with some bread & butter. All my favourite things, on one enamel plate! This place gives you something the city usually can not. Old-school country charm, mixed with european hospitality & unpretentious indie-cool. The food is simple, the winelist is wonderfully eclectic & the atmosphere is comforting.
I had just been upstairs to the vintage sale I heard of somewhere around the traps. I found myself a ladies hat & a nice blue seventies collared shirt. The sale is still on til saturday, enter Vonhaus & go upstairs. There are lots of clothes, shoes, sunnies & other accessories.
After my lunch, I tottled off to pick up some new season tea from Lupicia & then off to carlton for a snip snip of the old hair.
Before making my way home, I purchased a tray of gnocchi from Dominics on lygon. This I cooked for dinner with a light sauce of broccoli, anchovy, pine nut & garlic. With a pear, parmesan & rocket salad on the side.
And to finish the day, a stint at the sewing machine to finish off a gift.

on my desk... on a wednesday

Origami paper & wooden pinches, both $2.50 from fujimart.
So much cheaper than a craft store.

this is... very domestic

So my this is for this week, shows my current domesticity. I have been crafting... however I can not show my creations yet because they are a gift for someone who reads this blog everyday. So here are some other things I've been up to...
I've been buying cute second hand jars to store my pantry supplies in. The two smaller ones were found in windsor op shops & the large one was found at rosebud.
I purchased this arabia jar on ebay about 5 months ago, and I've been waiting very patiently fo it to arrive from Canada. Yesterday it came in the mail. The boy thought I had finally lost my marbles... as to save on packaging, they sent it in a box originally for an electric potpourri diffuser with the most hideous design you've ever seen. He was quite distraught that he had to open the box to get a good look at the thing, to discover with relief, it's true identity.
I was also inspired recently by the lovely Nichola, to make some soap. The recipe she used was for soap from scratch & it involves the use of caustic soda. I'm a bit wary of this stuff, so for my first attempt at soap making I thought I could make some re-batched soap. After a little while clicking around, I stumbled across this girl who had made some from a recipe she found here. So yesterday I got to it and whipped some up, I must say it was a bit tough on the stirring arm, but overall pretty easy & took about half an hour. I added almond essence & oats to mine for a good scrubby feeling. Now they just need a week to cure & they're good to go.

quiet time now...

scarecrow pie

That book I told you I'm cooking from yesterday, you know the low GI vego cookbook... anyway, last night I cooked vegetarian shepherds pie. Which got the boy wondering "How can it be shepherds pie, because don't the shepherds protect sheep?" I agreed entirely with his questioning & decided that it shall now be called scarecrow pie... because scarecrows protect your veggie patch!
I did truly have a giggle over this.
So here's the recipe, not only is it delicious... it's super good for you too.

Ingredients

• 2 medium potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
• 300gm sweet potato, peeled & cut into chunks
• 2 tsp mustard seed oil
• salt & pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled & finely chopped
• 1 stick celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, finely chopped
• 120gm mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 400gm can lentils, rinsed & drained (I use dried lentils, cooking them prior)
• 400gm can chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp flatleaf parsley, chopped
• 30gm grated cheddar cheese, optional
• 20gm fresh  breadcrumbs

Method

• Boil the potato & sweet potato together in a medium saucepan for 15 mins, or until soft. Drain, add the mustard seed oil, season & mash until smooth.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, carrot & celery & cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 mins, or until vegetables are slightly soft. Add the zucchini, mushrooms & garlic & cook for 3-4 mins more. Add the tomato paste & cook for 2 mins. Add the lentils, tomatoes & 60ml water, & stir to combine. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 mins. Stir through chopped parsley.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
• Spoon the lentil mixture into a 1.5 litre ovenproof dish. Top with the mashed potato & sprinkle with grated cheese & breadcrumbs. Cook until topping is golden & bubbling. Serve immediately.
• Serves 4 - Prep time: 20 mins - Cooking time: 35 mins

hippity hip hip hop happy birthday

Today is my younger sister Melissa's birthday, she is 22. This is us together when she was new. Look at her chubby cheeks. Happy birthday Melly!

mixtape monday

just a minute... in july

I've joined in on this meme, because I've seen other super people doing it...
It's a nice way to summarise the month.

Reading... Beatrix Potter-The extraordinary life of a victorian genius, by Linda Lear

Watching... Michael Clayton, Antiques Roadshow & Top Gear

Listening... Ryan Adams, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, James Hunter & Gene Clark

Travelling... Portsea

Learning... to balance my life, a continual lesson

Finding... $2 pyrex in the op shops

Cooking... Recipes from this book

Crafting... a ribbed scarf, cushion covers & granny blanket

Instructions.................................................................
Pretty easy really - pick any day of the month to post (maybe when you can't think of a thing to blog about!) and give us a handful of highlights beginning with an action, like: reading... or eating...

Give it a title, 'Just a minute... in (insert month)' so others can find them easily in your post list.

flashback friday...

This was my toy box when I was a wee lass.

one word...

Brooke thinks I'll post this... she don't know me... don't tell her I have...

1. Where is your cell phone? bedroom
2. Your significant other? workshop
3. Your hair? mousy
4. Your daughter? no
5. Your son? neither
6. Your favorite thing? happiness
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your goal? learning
10. The room you’re in? studio
11. Your church? friendship
12. Your fear? loss
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mothering
14. Where were you last night? work
15. What you’re not? nasty
16. Muffins? bikkies
17. One of your wish list items? acreage
18. Where you grew up? macgregor
19. The last thing you did? slept
20. What are you wearing? trackies
21. Your TV? asleep
22. Your pets? adorable
23. Your computer? awake
24. Your life? happy
25. Your mood? groany
26. Missing someone? emma
27. Your car? flat
28. Something you’re not wearing? hat
29. Favorite store? market
30. Your summer? long
31. Like(love) someone? always
32. Your favorite color? yellow
33. Last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? forget
35. Who will repost this? hollie

on my desk... on a wednesday

Some lovely old buttons found at a rosebud op shop, & some weekend doodling.& another op shop find... the illustrations are just too cute.
It was published in New York for PanAm, I'm still trying to figure out the year.

this is... what makes me happy

A little late... but here all the same. this wonderful man makes me happy

Otto-dog makes me happy

flowers & photography makes me happy

fresh produce & markets make me happy

trips to the country makes me happy

cooking makes me happy

in 3,2,1 & we're back on air...

Portsea was fantastic! It rained all weekend, the type of rain you only really enjoy if you are inside comfy & cosy & super warm. While it was raining buckets at every angle, we were sitting infront of a fire reading. There was super good food cooked & eaten, numerous cups of tea enjoyed & a couple of fine reds that went down rather well. I began reading a biography on Beatrix Potter (such an amazing woman), I stitched a little, knitted a little & doodled a few pages too. The Mr & I discussed the future & played some scrabble (kitty won 297 to samuel's 186) & otherwise just enjoyed each others company. It was a lovely time.

sunday night fire

weekend away...

Tomorrow we're off to portsea to snuggle up on the couch in front of the fire. I hope to get some knitting, crocheting & stitching finished. I also want to get some writing and drawing done too. Some crafty kitty time is definately in order. Be back on monday.

Portsea Pier, originally uploaded by quangas.

flashback friday...

Here I am nearly 10. Mum took us to a farm. The little ones were only allowed to ride the shetland pony, but long-limbed kitty was big enough to ride the real horse. I've always wanted my own horse, Mum says when they buy property I can have one. It might even be when I buy property... one day... I think I want a palomino.

wednesday work all day...

I have been busy working & unfortunately have had no time for any craft. Thank god I had brown owls on monday night, otherwise I may have gone mad.
So anyway, in my break yesterday I snapped some new hosier lane graffiti. There really are some clever chooks out there, check out the knitted sock for the bollard.

this is... what gives me goosebumps

Ode to Surf, originally uploaded by richbrenner.

So, where shall I start?
I really don't like the water. It's always cold, and I don't like being cold. I also don't like getting wet, especially my face. I don't like the waves, because to me they are unpredictable & I always end up getting splashed in the face or totally dunked. And then there is the fact of salty water, I have sensitive eyes and it always stings like hell. What else is there... oh, the wind. So gusty all the time by the sea. And the sand, it gets everywhere and then you get sandblasted and it's in your eyes and mouth and in your drink.
So anyway, what I'm trying to say is... give me a photo of the beach anyday.

100 year old photos???

I was flicking around over at how about orange, & found a link to this fabulous site that takes your photos & makes them look a hundred years old. Here's a few of my photos I played with...

flashback friday

This is me & 2 of my younger siblings, circa 1989. We were having a tea party with our toys.

Remember once long ago, I told you of my favourite cup & the story of how it became chipped. Well my friend still to this day has felt guilty, & has now found an exact replica to replace it. He says he knows it is not the original, but I think it is fantastic. Thank you so much, they shall now live on the shelf together.

on my desk... on a wednesday

Here is that wallpaper I found at camberwell market on sunday, two rolls of it. I think it is just delightful.I have also been working on some different crochet patterns from my thrifted woolcraft book. I'm making a face cloth out of a really soft bamboo yarn... I'll see how it goes.
Lastly, new upon my lapel is a brooch. A gift from my sister to say thankyou for having her this past week. What a sweetie. The brooch is by Dan McGill, you can find him at the rose st markets on saturdays & the st kilda markets on sundays.

weekend past...

The weekend has past one more time again. I spent it traipsing around fitzroy on the saturday. My besty & I made plans to turn her garage into our new studio. We had a late breakfast at birdman eating on gertrude st, their housemade crumpets & ricotta hotcakes are superb! To mikes we then did go, a hanging in the window for ethel elephant was in order. Down to the rose st markets, where I met the lovely holly of hokey fame. Off to wwwash for some tea and rest, only to find to our disapointment that it is under new ownership... which means no more cool guy cooking crepes... no crepes! and no good music! So I will never go there again, it was a sad moment. And after a bit more shopping, the mister picked us up in the roaring black beast panelvan and took us to the napier for a rockin burger.
On sunday, we got up before the crack of dawn to do the camberwell markets. I had a stall to sell off some unwanteds and scored a cute little brown owl for the cluhouse and some awesome vintage wallpaper that I'll have to show later in the week.
Here are some snaps of the goodness.

I made quince jalousie for sunday night dessert.

Bought this cute hook from zakkaya

Purchased these three letters from industria to spell my favourite french word.

And here is my brown owl contribution, he looks kinda spaced out... don't you think?

this is... my most treasured childhood possesion

This is Victor, he was given to me when I was born... by who, I cannot recall. He's in pretty good shape for his age, he didn't go everywhere with me which is perhaps why. These days, Victor sits on a chair in the living room & casually observes his surrounds.This meme & theme was proudly brought to you by the fabulous three buttons & the delightful teacups on treetops.

music in my ears

I've been tagged by Drewzel to list seven songs I'm a listenin to right now. Every now and then I yearn for the songs my dad played when I was growing up and these are my favourites from his 60's rock collection.
I'm not going to tag anyone, feel free to play along.

1.	Hollies - The Air That I Breathe
2.	The Beatles - Come Together
3.	The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
4.	The Doors - Light My Fire
5.	The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon
6.	Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven
7.	The Monkees - Last Train to Clarksville

flashback friday...

Turn your calendars back to 1988, the year of world expo held in brisbane. It was an exciting time & I was in an exciting place. I had just started school & the whole world was waiting to be discovered by little rambunctious me.
My teacher was Mrs Frampton & I thought she was the greatest thing since I met my mum. That's her in the picture... the tall one that is, & if you look down to her right, the girl with the long blonde hair & pink bow... that's me. We were doing the hokey pokey, infront of the whole school & our mums & dads. I was a nerd, aswell as a big suck... I used to give my teacher shoulder massages... too funny.
All the other kids in my class ate glue... but I never quite understood why. Oh how I miss those days.

curious squirrel

I purchased this tiny critter during my zoo outing yesterday, as I knew I had a whole bowl of acorns he might like. Here he is with one now.

friday archives...

Another beautiful design from my archives. I began to move onto ball gowns. This one is titled "English Rose".